Container handling and registering apparatus



Dec. 4, 1951 CONTAINER Filed March 19, 1949 J. MAGNUSSON HANDLING AND REGISTERING APPARATUS v 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO/VIIV Dec. 4, 1951 J. MAGNUssoN 2,577,341

l,CONTAINER HANDLING AND REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

354 JOSEPH MAGNUSSON UQ. mcmgm, E156` @from/Ew Dec. 4, 1951 J. MAGNUssoN l 2,577,341

CQNTAINER HANDLING AND REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1949 4 sheets-snee 3 IN1/EN TOR. JOSEPH MHGNUSSON Dec. 4,

1951 J. MAGNussoN Filed March 19; 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l l l /NVE/V Tof? JOSEPH qqNC/,SSON

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 unir/en ifs `ceificii This invention relates n to container handling and;registering;apparatus. V l e i.

The invention nestor anobjecttteprQYidee noveland improved vapparatus for handling containers; such as bottles; of theitypeghivingletf ters oncharacters formedn the Joodymportion thereof, sucli as raised letters orwciiaracters noldedA in the V*glass of ,bottlesg` andyfor `register ing the' containers with; respect"toithe convey.,- ingt: portion of the apparatus; tn thev end :that subsequent operations, such asythe labelingVL of the* bottle' orcontainer, may .be accomplished with the application of: thelabelto;y the predetermined" desiredV portions; of the loody ofthe bottle or container. The invention contemplates an' improvementV in the A,containerhandling and reilgiisteringrV apparatusl illustrated and vdescribed in my'Um'ted States PatentNo'. 2*, 2933553gissued Augst' 18 1 942i and f isy characterized by" then pro*- v'ision of an,` additional statinfof operation for rrore" positively and accurately registering the containers in a pre'deteriiiiined` position' relative toftheconveyer ina novelv and highly" eilicient manner.

With this generaieiijeet-in view` ends'nen @there als-'may hereinafter' appear; theinventioncon'i sists in the container handling@ and registering apparatus" and" ther various' structures;l arrngexnents and cor'nloin'ations"oft parts herein; after' described andvr particularly"V den'ed'-E in th'e eiaiins` ettne Yend of tnis'spe'eiiieation. n

In the'drawingsillustratingfti preferred emi bdim'nt of the invention=,"-Fig' 1l isafnfndfvinew', partly in( cross-section, of a lsuicient po o'nf'f ."T4 lalielingmachine embodying-' the"pre"s`1`1t' in- V'riton to (-)Iieblet it to'b understo'dj Fig.' is ef-lpian vievv eieviaiivv of mechanism"feif'supprtine 'allg'filing' the' uppi' portion ofA thrctirl'; Fig; :i i is'j e pien' view f deteiiof e, portion" of: ine dxv ying mechanism shown in Eig." 1j* isa pla viewof the present registeringj appar ts e 2 p, fo'f" the registering" apbaiatusjehewnl Vin Fig". sg/"Fige: 11ennaizjei'rejdetailvievv'e-iiipiei d side' elet/'atiensl respectively of the uppe'rsupp ing neit,kv unibe referred wenn 13"'isapere y tive'vie'tiofrese'ttifig mechanism', tobe'frefe 1 to; vand Fig. 1`4` isvari end View, si'rnfilar'to"j and illl'ltatlllg th'scbndrstatidf e' '.fter"k jg appfiatiis;` aS"Vieifd from thelier Ill-T4 o'fFiglAl. 4 Y.

in generali', the' l n A (llingl Y and" registering lparatus x in' WlncV vision' is made1 for cc'inve'yi'rfg awsr'ie'sfoffcont which forV convenience'of esciption will b inenten`reieneiieenebenan; andrei ige' successive bottles in.v predetermined relat j the conyeyer so-y that when:thelinelof bottlessfis conveyed to ins'trim" ltaliltijes, sch as :labeling .mecharjisnr,v the app icatidnfof label may be effected atpredetefininedfppr ofthe .bQdyf of) th' bitlel The. irvemioh. Yi'ri. it preferred-vf9rm isf siined'ffp .Oti liebbottles" of vsul)stantially ylindrical'sh Alia'yig lfeiseclv letters @f haiaifs formed' Ori the bdy thereon. and contemplates 'mhiiiim feel@ eratingvy ,with )successive loottles' as `they are eine conveyelnfor .detecting-'1 the raised letterin'gfg emersione-recin enthalten. @tithe Ome he fer registering anni portion Qf 12111210912 e, in @elimine pQSiiiQn.:Wiihjrespeetiq ihe'orlvyeir; S33 that the. bottlesare conveyed i9 Subeedui iii* Strumentalities, additional" operations.; .i'h .@.aS labeling oprationsmay be Aeffe@wel 1119011. desired predetermined; pcrtorle Qft. the badi', 9i the bQitla T0 this and, in thapreferred embpdimeet Qf the invention,.;the apparatus ispryided withgfene mechanism disposedV at -one station of operation designed to detect a raised portion of-agbottle andalso with mechanism for rotating thel bottle until such feeling mechanism indicates that 'the raisedfportion of the'.` bottle hasoas'sum'ed a preliminary" positionh. relativel to the conveyer apiproxirnating" th predetermined" position desired and preferably with the raised portion movedto an" angular position'slighHyf beyond th'ei'desired predetermined p''StlT 'the' direction; 'Of" Itai tionoff the bottlelviilierenpon provision' is in e fort"discontinuingthe rotation ofthe" bitle'wth re1aipifitetne eenve'yen Thereaftenme beweis opposite direction and for positively stopping rotation of the bottle when the desired position is reached.

While the prior container handling and registering apparatus shown in the Magnusson patent referred to is operative to successfully position the bottles with relation to the conveyer within satisfactory commercial limits in most instances, it was found in practice that a variation in the height of the raised portions or any imperfections in the periphery of the bottles would cause variations in the position of termination of rotation of the bottles so that it was difcult to maintain uniform registration of successive bottles. Also, the relatively high speed of operation of the machine renders it diiiicult to effect instantaneous termination of rotation of the bottle when a raised portion is detected so that the .bottle would rotate a short distance beyond the predetermined position desired in varying amounts with the result that imperfect registration was obtained.

In accordance with the present invention, the bottle is iirst rotated, at one station of operation, until it assumes the approximate position desired, the rotation being purposely terminated at a point to dispose the raised portion slightly beyond the desired position. Thereafter at a second station of operation, the bottle is accurately positioned by mechanism designed to engage the raised portion and to rotate the bottle in a reverse direction to a fixed angular position relative .to the conveyer thus assuring uniform disy position of successive bottles relative to the conveyer and proper registration with the labeling mechanism. In practice, the angular disposition of the raised portion beyond the predetermined desired position, at the iirst station of operation, may vary within reasonable limits, the second station of the registering apparatus being adapted to engage the raised portions in such varying positions and to accurately position successive vcontainers uniformly relative to the conveyer.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, the registering apparatus, indicated generally at I8 and 300, is herein illustrated as embodied in a labeling machine which may be of any usual or preferred type. and which may include a movable support such as a belt I2 adapted to be intermittently moved to present the bottles I4 to successive stations for applying a label and for pressing the label against the bottle. The bottle I4 herein illustrated, is provided with a raised portion I6 which may be either a projection formed on the surface thereof or may be part of lettering molded in the bottle.

In the operation of the commercial labeling machine, the bottles I4 are fed from a source of supply onto the belt I2, without reference to the position of the lettering thereon with relation to the supporting belt I2. The bottles are preferably placed upon the intermittently movable conveyer belt I2 in predetermined spaced relation for registration with the labeling mechanisms.

In accordance with the present invention, the bottles are successively moved into operative position with relation to stations I and 308 of the registering apparatus prior to being presented to the subsequent mechanisms for applying the label whereby the container may be rotated on its vertical axis at station I0 until it assumes a position approximating the desired position relative to the conveyer, whereupon the bottle is moved to station 300 wherein provision is made for accurately positioning the bottle in definite relation to the conveyer so that when the containers are subsequently presented to the labeling mechanisms, they will be properly positioned with relation thereto to apply the labels in the desired location on the bottles.

Provision is also made, in the commercial labeling machines now upon the market, for supporting the top of the bottles as they are conveyed through the machine and, as herein shown, such support is effected by an endless chain I8 having a plurality of pads 2D adapted to yieldingly engage the top of the bottles and to be moved along with the bottles at the same rate of speed as the belt I2. The chain I8 is arranged to be pressed downwardly by a flexible steel strip 22 supported upon pins 24 mounted to be capable of vertical movement in a frame member 26 of the labeling machine. The strip 22 is urged into engagement with the top of the lower run of the chain I8 by springs 28 as clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In order to free the bottle I4 from such pressure to permit rotation thereof, as will be described, provision is made for raising the pad 28 from engagement with its bottle and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, raising of the pad at station I8 is effected through connections from a cam 30 fast upon a cam shaft 32 forming part of the labeling machine. As shown in Figs. 1, l1, l2, each pad 20 is mounted on a transverse member 34 which is guided between stationary angle rails 36. The rails 36 are open at station I0 of the bottle registering mechanism and a movable member 38 is normally disposed to form an extension of the rails 36. An elongated'stud 40 connected to the movable member 38 and vertically movable in the frame member 26 is normally urged downwardly by a spring 42. The upper end of the stud is provided with a washer 44 arranged to be engaged by one arm 46 of a lever pivotally mounted on a stud 48 secured in the machine frame. A second arm 50 of the lever is connected by a link 52 to one arm 54 of a cam lever rockingly mounted on a stud 56 secured in a bracket 58 attached to the machine frame. The second arm 60 of the cam lever is provided with a roller 62 which cooperates with the cam 30. A spring 63 attached to the arm E0 operates to hold the roller 62 in engagement with its cam. Thus, in operation, when the bottle is moved into operative position with relation to the registering apparatus at station I0, the cam 30 operates to raise the movable member 38 whichengages the ends of the transverse member 34 to remove the pad 20 from engagement with the bottle and render ineiective the pressure of the exible strip 22.

Simultaneously with the removal of the pad 20 from operative engagement with the bottle, :provision is lmade for eiiecting lateral support for the upper or neck portion of the bottle at station Ill. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a stationary roller 64 is arranged to bear against one side of the neck portion of the bottle. The stationary roller is carried in an angle piece 66adjustably mounted in a stationary bracket 68. The other side of the neck portion is supported by two rollers l0, 'I2 rotatably mounted in an angle piece 'I4 which is similarly mounted for vertical adjustment in an angle bracket 16. The angle bracket I6 is attached to a carrier 'I8 slidingly mounted in a bracket and is arranged to be reciprocated laterally to urge the rollers 10, 12 into yielding engagement with the neck portion of the bottle through connections from the pad raising mechanism, as illustrated in Fig. 1. These connections include a third arm B2 of the lever pivotally mounted at 48 which is connected by a link 84 to screws 262 carried in the lower bearing member 248, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The other end 264 of the pivotally mounted cam bar 251 is arranged to be engaged by a roller 266 carried by a lever 268 mounted fast on the lower end of a stud 210 rockingly mounted in a bracket 212 attached to the carrier II2.` A spring 214 attached to the end 256 of the cam bar 251 normally urges the bar against the roller 254 to move the detecting finger into operative engagement with the bottle being rotated. The upper end of the stud 210 is provided with a latch member 216 arranged l to engage the tail portions of the pawls 238, 240 to hold them out of engagement with the ratchet 236. A spring 218 attached to a stud 280 in the lever 268 is arranged to urge the latch member 216 into latching position, and also to cause the roller 266 to engage the cam bar end 264.

In the operation of the apparatus thus far described, when the opposing units |02, |08 are moved inwardly to cause the rollers |04, |06, and |I to engage the bottle, therollers |04, |06 are driven to rotate the bottle through the connections described. When the projection I6 on the bottle engages the detecting finger III, the shaft 244 is rocked which rocks the cam bar 251 to move the latch out of the path of the tail portions of the pawls 238, 240 to permit them to engage the ratchet 236 to stop the driven member |94 and the rollers |04, |06. The friction clutch, including the housing |90 and the disks |92, is permitted to slip on the driven member |94 while the pawls 238, 240 are in engagement with the ratchet 236.

Provision is made for resetting the detecting mechanism and for removing the pawls 238, 246 from engagement with the ratchet upon the return movement of the driving unit |02, and as herein shown, the resetting mechanism includes a bell-crank 282 pivotally mounted on a stud 284 l attached to the carrier I I2. One arm of the bellcrank is provided with a resetting pin 290 arranged to engage the tail portions of the pawls 238, 240 to disengage the same from the ratchet and to permit the latch member 216 to fall into latching position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The other arm of the bell-crank 282 is provided with a cam roll 292 arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam piece 294 mounted on the slide bracket |I4. the roll against its cam. Normally when the unit |02 is in its advanced or operative position against the bottle, the roll 292 is against the low4 portion of the cam piece 294 to hold the resetting pin 290 out of engagement with the tail i portions of the pawls. When the unit is retracted, the roll 292 rides upon the high spot of the cam piece 294, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, to disengage the pawls 238, 240 from the ratchet 236 and to permit the latch 216 to be moved into locking position. p

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the detecting finger I I I and associated control mechanism at station I0 is adapted to terminate rotation of the bottle I4 in a preliminary position approximating the desired position, and as herein shown, the bottle is preferably brought to rest at station I0 with the raised portion I3 disposed a short angular distance beyond a position at right angles to the path of the conveyer I2. In practice, the angular distance from a diametral line passing through the center of the bottle at right angles to the conveyer, to a diametral line drawn from the center of fthe bottle through the raised portion I6 may vary from to l0 degrees when rotation A spring 296 is arranged to hold i of the bottle is terminated at station I0, as determined by initial adjustment of the control mechanism and by variations due to differences in height of successive bottles, overriding or other causes. It will also be observed that the accuracy of registration at station I8 is limited by the distance between the teeth in the ratchet 236, so that exact registration may not be effected at station I0.

After the bottle has been rotated to a preliminary position of alignment, as above described, the pad 26 of the endless chain I8 is again lowered into engagement with the top of the bottle, at station I0, to hold the bottle in its roughly spotted or preliminary aligned position during subsequent intermittent movement of the bottle into operative position to station 300 wherein provision is made for rotating the bottle in a reverse direction and at a relatively slower speed until the raised portion I6 assumes the desired position at right angles to the conveyer belt to effect accurate registration of the bottles.

As soon as the bottle comes to rest at station 388 in its preliminary aligned position, the pad 20 is again raised from engagementwith the top of the bottle to permit rotation thereof into accurate alignment, and as illustrated in Fig. 14 this may be accomplished by mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 14, such mechanism includes a cam operated linkage comprising a two-armed lever pivotally mounted at 48 having one arm 362 engageable with the underside of the washer 44 and a second arm 304 connected by a link 306 to one arm 308 of a cam lever pivotally mounted on the shaft 56. The second arm 316 of the cam lever is provided with a roller 3|2 which cooperates with a cam 3|4 fast on thecam shaft 32. A spring 3I6 attached to the arm 3Iu operates to hold the roller 3I2 in engagement with its cam.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 14, the second station 308 of the registering mechanism comprises a pair of spaced idler rolls 3|8, 320 mounted upon a carrier 322 arranged to be reciprocated trans.A versely of the conveyer belt I2 in a slide bracket 324 attached to the platen II6 of the machine frame. The idler rolls 3I8, 320 are arranged to engage and support one side of the bottle to permit rotation thereof during the final registering operation. The final registering operation is per# formed by a cam operated registering finger 326 disposed on the opposite side of the conveyer and arranged to engage the raised portion-I6 in itsI preliminary aligned angular position and to move it into a position at right angles to the conveyer I2, as shown in Fig. 4.

The carrier 322 and idler roll unit 3I8, 320 is arranged to be reciprocated into and out of operative engagement with the bottle in timed relation to the intermittent movement of the belt I2 through connections from a cam 328 mounted fast on the cam shaft 32 in a manner similar to the connectionsfor operating the carrier |I2 as shown in Fig. 1, and as shown in Fig. 14, a cam'roller 330 carried by a cam lever 332 rockingly mounted on the shaft 56 is arranged to cooperate with a cam path 334 formed in the cam 328. The cam lever 332 is connected by a link 335 to one arm 336 of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted at |32. A link 338 connects the arm 336 to an arm 340 pivotally mounted on the shaft |48, the arm 340 being provided with a slot 342 in which a slide block 344 carried in one arm of a bell-crank 346 is arranged to be received. The second arm of the bell-crank 346 is connected by a :link 348 to a depending .lug 349 attached to the carrier 322, asshown in Fig. 14. l v v rThecam operated nalregisteringnger V326 forms one A-arm iofa :bell-crank' pivotally mounted at 350 which comprisespartofv a linkage arranged to rock the registering linger 326.from-a.neutral or retracted position, indicated bydotted lines at 326 Yin Fig. 4, to ank extended position :in 4engagement with the periphery of the bottle, as indicated in dotted lines `at 326, and to `then cause the -fingerto move kalong the periphery of the lbottle' .to engage the Araised portio-nand to efectrotation :ofLthebottle in a clockwise directioniuntil .the raised-.portion :assumes aposition atrightangles to the tconveyer, as shown in 'full lines in Fig. 4.

'Thelinkage for eiecting such movement of the registering iinger 325, as illustrated 2in Figs.

4 tand '7,includes .aniarm 352 which carries .the pivot 350 on whichV the rregistering iinger` .bellcranklis mounted, vthe arm 352 `being rockingly mounted and 'frictionally held on a stud 354 fast inaastationary bracket v356 attached to the machineram'e. The arm 352 is'frictionally-retained in lany .position to-'which it is moved, by a friction washer 358 urged intoengagement with the upper .surface of its hub by a coil spring 36B interposed between the frictionwasher and .the underside of the head of the stud 354, as clearly shown 'in Fig. '1. Arstop pin 353 carried .by the arm 352 .is A'arranged to limit the rocking movementsof the registering finger `bell-crank by engagement `with .the second arm 362 of the latter. As hereinv shown, Vthe second arm 362 of the registering finger bell-crank is connected by a 'link`364to one arm 366 of a bell-crank pivotally mounted -at `i368 in the stationary bracket 356. The-second arm 310 of the bell-crank is 'connectedbya'link r312 tothe arm V3'l-cf thetwoarmed-leverpivotally mounted at 132, as shown in Fig. 114, thus reiecting simultaneous-.operation ofthe registering `nger 326 and the reciprocatory memberr322 carrying the rollers 3 i8, 320.

In the operation ofA the above described linkage it will be `observed that when the cam 328 is operated to effect retraction of the nger 326 from its-full line position to its neutral position, illustrated `in Figfl, after 'the'bottle has beenrotated to itspredetermined aligned position, the bellcrank 31|), 366 is iirstV rocked in a clockwise direction on its pivot 338 and the registering nger bell-crank is rocked in a counter-clockwise -direction on its pivot l35!) until the arm 362l engages the stop pin'353 carried bythe arm 352. Thereafter, rocking movement of the frictionally held arm 352v is eiected in a counterclockwise direction on its stud 354 until it reaches its dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, with the linger 323 disposed in a retracted 'position substantially parallel to the conveyer l2. In its retractedposition,

thennger 32.6 is `disposed out of the path lof the f bottle I4 and itsraised portion i6 to avoid inter-` ference with the raised portion during movement of .the bottle Aintoand out of registering position at station 3D0.

During the following cycle -Yo'f operation when the 4cam 328 l'operates to `effect extension of the l linkage kinto engagement `with a succeeding bottle friccionauy heid arm 352 from *its` .dotted w lits full linepositiom as shown in Fig. 4; YDuring such movement, the iinger 323 will engage the Araised portion I6 in its preliminary aligned position and move it to a positionat right angles to the conveyer, as illustrated. In the embodiment ofthe inventionillnstrated in Fig. 4, the lthrow -of the cam :32S 'and the yassociated linkage may ,be Aadjusted'to bring .the `linkage to rest when the predetermined .point of alignment is reached.

1n practice, the movement of the registering nger 326- moveztherbottle in a clockwise 'direc' tion is relatively slcwas compared to thecounter ciockwisefrotary movement of the bottle at station i3so :that overriding :ci fthe Abottle-beyond the registered position when the finger comes to rest is reduced to a minimum. However, in someinof the invention'shown in Fig. 8, provision is made for positively assuring accurate .registratiomrand as therein shown, .a pivotallymounted andyieldingly engageable stop finger 313 may be .provided arranged to cooperate withthe linger 32:6 and `to engage the opposite side of the raised portion 'I6 when the kbottle is rotated in a clockwise direction- The `stop finger 315 is attached to an arm 333 pivotally'mounted on a ystudi38il and is urged in a counter-clockwise Vdirection or inwardly into Aengagement with the bottle 'by a spring 382, the movement in this direction being limited by a pin 334 engageable with .the arm .313. In the event that the raised portieri extends into the path of the end of the stop finger as-,tne bottle is conveyed into operative position at sta-tion 300,-the )iinger k316 will :be rocked outy of the way to permit the bottlevto pass andthe `iftinger will thensnap back into engage ment with the periphery of kthe bottle onthe left hand side ofthe raised portion, l5. It will .be observed that the bottle is held in its prealigned position during movementuthereof :by the pressure Vpadslill-.of'the upperV chain lf3 in vcooperation with -the feonveyer belt 12, .as described. Thus, if the registering nger 326 should engage a relatively small protusion of adefective yloottladu'ring the iin-al registering operation, the bottle -willibe opposite side ofthe raised portion "Igso that the latter 'will be engaged between thetwo 'fingers thus eiecting accurate `and uniform registration of successiveieettles relative tothe conveyer'for the application of labels `upon predetermined portions V:of the bottles vat Isucceedimg station-s 'of operation.

vThroughout the foregoing specification, and in the claims, it .will be understood kthat wherever the term bottle is used, it is intended to include any type of container adapted 'to be rotated into apredetermined position with respect to its conveying element. 'It will also be understood that wherever ithe :word lettering is used, `it kis intended to include any other projections, designs or `characters formed upon the `surface of the container adapted -to be engaged by amdetecting` finger and to actuate control mechanismffor positioning la container in -a predeterminediposition with relation to V'its V'conveyingY element.

A While the *preferred embodiment of the inv'eni- Ila Y tion has been herein illustrated and described, it

Will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, `what is claimed is: v

'1. Container handling andregistering apparatus having, in combination, means forconveying successive containers having lettering formed Von the surface thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means for iirst rotating the container into a preliminary position of registration approximating said predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container for thereafter engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and rotating the container into said predetermined position of registration.

2. Container handling and vregistering appa- -ratus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof, and `container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means disposed at one station ofl operation for rotating the container to a preliminary position of registration approximating said predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container disposed at a second station of operation for engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and rotating the container to said predetermined position of registration.

- 3.*Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means for first rotating the container in one direction to dispose the container in a preliminary position of registration with the lettering disposed a short distance beyond the predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container for thereafter engaging the lettering on the container in its prelim-inary position and rotating the container in the opposite direction into said predetermined position of registration.

4. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surace thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprisingA means for first rotating the container in one direction and at a relatively high speed to dispose the container in a preliminary position of registration with the lettering disposed a short distanceY beyond the predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container for thereafter engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and-rotating the container in the opposite direction and at a relatively slower speed into said predeterminedv position of registration.

.5. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering ,formed on'the surface thereof, and Container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means disposed at one station of operation for rotating the container into a preliminary position of registration such that a diametral line passing through the container and through the lettering extends at an angle with respect to a similar diametral line at right angles to the conveyer, and means disposed at a second station of operation and movable along the periphery of the container for engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and rotating the container i to dispose said diametral linepassing through said lettering into a position of coincidence with the diametral line at right angles to the conveyer.

6. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination,'means for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof, and container registering .mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined yposition with respect to the conveying means, comprising means forfirst rotating the container intoa preliminary position of registration approximating said predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container for thereafter engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and rotating the container into said predetermined position of registration, and stop means cooperating with said letter engaging and container rotating means for assuring accurate positioning ofthe container in said predetermined position.

7. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof, and container-registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means for rst rotating the container in one direction to dispose the container in a preliminary position of registration with the lettering disposed a short distance beyond the predetermined position, and means movable along the surface of the container for thereafter engaging the lettering on the container in its preliminary position and rotating the container in the opposite direction into said predetermined position of registration, and stop means cooperating with said letter engaging and container rotating means and engageable with the opposite side of said lettering for assuring accurate and uniform positioning of successive containers in said predetermined position.

8. `Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, means for conveying successive containers having lettering formedon the surface thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the container with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveying means, comprising means disposed at one station of operation for rotating the container in one direction to dispose the container in a preliminary position with a diametral line passing through the lettering extended at a relatively small and variable angle with respect to a diametral line at right angles to the conveyer,`anda registeringv 15 in combination, a conveyer for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof and with the container disposed in a preliminary position of registration approximating a predetermined position with respect to the conveyer, a registering finger engageable with the surface of the container in its preliminary position, and means for moving the finger along the surface and into engagement with one side of the lettering to effect rotation of the container into said predetermined posi-o tion with respect to the conveyer, and a stationary stop finger cooperating With said registering finger and engageable lwith the opposite side of said lettering whereby to assure accurate and uniform positioning of successive containers in said predetermined position.

18. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a conveyer for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof and with the container disposed in 'a preliminary position of registration approximating a predetermined position with respect to the conveyer, a registering finger engageable with the surface of the container in its preliminary position, and means for moving the nger along the surface and into engagement with one side of the lettering to eiect rotation of the container into said predetermined position with respect to the conveyer, and a stationary stop finger cooperating with said registering nger and engageable with the opposite side of said lettering whereby to assure accurate and uniform positioning of successive containers in said predetermined position, and a plurality of idler rolls engageable with and arranged to support the container for rotation during the registering operation. I

19. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, an intermittently operated conveyer for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the Surface thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the containers with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveyer, comprising means disposed at one station of operation for rotating the container to a preliminary position of registration approximating said predetermined position, means engageable with the top of ythe container for clamping and holding the container in its preliminary position during intermittent movement to a second station, a registering finger engageable with the surface of the container at said second station, means for moving the finger along the surface and into engagement with one side of the lettering to effect rotation into said predetermined position, a pivotally and yieldingly mounted stop iinger cooperating With said registering i'lnger and engageable with the opposite side of said lettering to assure accurate and uniform positioning of successive containers in said predetermined position, and a reciprocal member having a pair of idler rolls arranged to support the container for rotation when moved into operative position therewith during the registering operation.

20. Container handling and registering apparatus having, in combination, an intermittently operated conveyer for conveying successive containers having lettering formed on the surface thereof, and container registering mechanism for registering the containers with the lettering disposed in a predetermined position with respect to the conveyer, comprising means disposed at one station of operation for rotating the container to a preliminary position of registration approximating said predetermined position, means engageable with the top of the container for clamping. and holding the container in its preliminary position during intermittent movement to a second station, a registering nger engageable with the surface of the container at said second station, means for moving the finger along the surface and into engagement with one side of the lettering to effect rotation into said predetermined position, a pivotally and yieldingly mounted stop finger cooperating with said registering nger and engageable with the opposite side of said lettering to assure accurate and uniform positioning of successive containers in said predetermined position, and a reciprocal member having a pair of idler rolls arranged to support the container fpr rotation when moved into operative position therewith during the registering operation, and means for simultaneously operating said registering finger and reciprocating said idler rolls into operative engagement with the container inrtimed relation to the intermittent movement of said conveyer.

JOSEPH MAGNUSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,608,119 Perchard Nov. 23, 1926V 2,293,553 Magnusson Aug. 18, 1942 2,426,433 Carter Aug. 26, 1947 

